In January 2002, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl (Dan Futterman) and his pregnant wife, Mariane (Angelina Jolie) who is also a journalist, are in Pakistan. One faitful day, Daniel heads out for an interview regarding the 'Shoe Bomber' Richard Reid, but is kidnapped. For several weeks, Mariane begins investigating with the help of Daniel's associate (Archie Panjabi), a Karashi police detective (Irrfan Khan), an American security agent (Will Patton), and Danny’s Wall Street Journal superior (Denis O'Hare) and colleague (Gary Wilmes).